Europe
Haggling over shape of second Irish referendum begins:
- Labour leader backs vote on EU membership
- Defence Minister opposes opt-out plan
Several papers follow up yesterday's leak of an EU briefing paper calling for a second referendum to deal with what it called the "Irish problem". The Daily Mail quotes Open Europe saying: "The EU simply won't take no for answer. They will make Ireland vote again and again until they are bullied into coming up with the so-called "right" answer. The British Government should be ashamed of itself for being part of the attempt to bully and isolate the Irish."
Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore, who has previously opposed a second referendum, appeared to soften his stance yesterday. He said that there would be another referendum at some point, but suggested it should not be on the treaty, but more generally on Ireland's relationship with the EU. When asked if the people would need to be consulted again about the treaty, he replied: "Of course... any change in an EU treaty requires a referendum here. There is obviously going to be another referendum at some point on a European issue. The question is what question is going to be put to people in that referendum?" He said: "I think what we need to do is stop being fixated about Lisbon. We need to move the discussion on to address Ireland's relationship with the EU."
Meanwhile Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has warned that he will strongly oppose any Lisbon Treaty solution that involved Ireland opting out of EU defence commitments. He said if any such proposal was to be brought before Cabinet, he would strongly oppose it as it would prevent Irish troops from taking part in any EU operations, such as the current peacekeeping involvement in Chad.
Under the headline, "Ireland's gift to the rest of the European Union" Paul Adamson argues in the FT that Ireland has done the EU a favour by objecting to the loss of commissioners; the "human face of their institution". Meanwhile, Fianna Fail is to hold a "think in" on the subject.
In an article in ESharp!, Anand Menon warns against "attempting to override democratic opinion whilst engaging in the distraction of institutional navel-gazing. Again".
Mail Irish Times Irish Independent FT Irish Independent Irish Times ESharp
Czechs will repeal laws, not pass new laws
The Czech government has set out its priorities for its presidency of the EU. The Czech education minister said that stimulating closer partnerships between educational institutions and the business world and teaching Europeans to embrace a more entrepreneurial spirit would be top of the list of priorities. He said no new law or directive will be proposed adding that the focus would rather be on getting rid of the laws that currently present obstacles to cooperation between the two worlds as well as on improving best-practice exchange on the issue between the EU 27.
Czech PM: Czech Rep. should change its constitution if it clashes with Lisbon
The Irish Times reports that Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has stated that the Czech Republic should change its constitution if it contradicts the Lisbon Treaty. The ratification process has been put on hold until the constitutional court rules on its legality, probably in October. However, Mr Topolanek's Civic Democrat party continues to be divided over the merits of the treaty, with some senior party members declaring it dead after Ireland's referendum.
Miliband warns Ireland there will be "unfinished business" if they don't ratify Lisbon
The Irish Times reports that the British Foreign Secretary said: "The Nice treaty left open the details of how the number of commissioners would be reduced, but that would become an issue if you had to live with Nice. So the implications of an Irish rejection are clear: Lisbon doesn't come into effect, but if it doesn't come into effect then Europe has to address some unfinished business."
He said: "It is ironic that William Hague should announce to the Irish people: 'Don't worry, the British cavalry are coming'. It is an interesting way to win friends and influence people. The Irish people are quite capable of finding their own way forward and they don't need the British Conservative Party to come and rescue them."
European Parliament promotes greater use of EU symbols despite no vote
The Times reports that the European Parliament is to promote greater use of EU symbols, such as the EU flag, anthem and motto, in order to help people to identify with the Union. However, as the Times points out, "scrapping references to the symbols was cited by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and others as a key difference between the EU Constitution -- rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 -- and its successor, the Lisbon Treaty (...) Their disappearance from the treaty has also been cited as a key reason by some governments - including Britain -- as to why referendums were not necessary on the new document".
EU poll finds that Europeans are "concerned" about climate change but don't want to change their lifestyles
EUobserver reports that 62 percent of Europeans consider climate change the second most serious problem facing the world today after global poverty. However few people had made changes to their own habits in order to help reduce climate change. Eurobarometer EUobserver European Voice
Ireland ordered to pay costs as ECJ finds it in breach of 1991 EU urban waste water law
Richard Corbett has an article on Comment is Free calling for a more social Europe
Putin - we won't accept a bloody nose -
And we won't accept London as a haven for dissent
The BBC reports that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has defended Russia's military intervention in Georgia dismissing European criticisms that Russia's use of force was "disproportionate": "What did you want us to do? Wave our penknives in the air and wipe the bloody snot off our noses?" he asked, adding: "When an aggressor comes into your territory, you need to punch him in the face - an aggressor needs to punished".
The Charlemagne column in the Economist argues that the Russia-Georgia conflict signifies "a worrying new world order". Charlemagne adds that there is a place for Europe within it "but Europeans do not agree over what it should be. America will elect a new president in November, and the poles of global power will move again. The world may not wait much longer for Europe to decide where it stands". The Economist leader continues with this theme, suggesting that the EU should be more assertive and "offer Ukraine and Russia's other neighbours a clearer path towards membership". Romania is reported to have requested a missile defence shield of the kind being installed in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Times reports Putin's warning to Britain that relations with Russia can only improve if London ceases to be a haven for anti-Russian dissent.
BBC Economist-Charlemagne Economist-leader Telegraph Times Irish Times
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